Split sprockets for use in conveyor systems

Abstract

A split sprocket for use in a modular conveyor belt is disclosed. The split sprocket includes first and second portions that may be selectively arranged in a first configuration in which the sprocket maintains a fixed axial position on the shaft and a second configuration in which the sprocket can axially float along the shaft.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A split sprocket having a rotational axis and comprising:
 a first sprocket portion having first and second sides, and a mid-plane parallel to the first and second sides that extends through the first sprocket portion, the first sprocket portion comprising:
 a first sprocket wheel segment having teeth; 
 a second sprocket wheel segment having teeth, the first sprocket wheel segment being across the mid-plane from the second sprocket wheel segment; 
 a first circumferential outer surface for engaging a belt, the first circumferential outer surface having first and second ends and a center line midway between the first and second ends, the center line being parallel to the rotational axis, the first sprocket portion comprising a center plane perpendicular to the mid-plane and in which the rotational axis and center line are contained in the center plane; and 
 a first mating face comprising:
 a first protrusion; and
 a first recess disposed (1) across the mid-plane and opposite from the first protrusion or (2) across the center plane and opposite the first protrusion; and 
 
 
 
 a second sprocket portion having first and second sides, and a mid-plane parallel to the first and second sides that extends through the second sprocket portion, the second sprocket portion comprising:
 a third sprocket wheel segment having teeth; 
 a fourth sprocket wheel segment having teeth, the third sprocket wheel segment being across the mid-plane from the fourth sprocket wheel segment; 
 a second circumferential outer surface for engaging a belt, the second circumferential outer surface having first and second ends and a center line midway between the first and second ends, the center line being parallel to the rotational axis, the second sprocket portion comprising a center plane perpendicular to the mid-plane and in which the rotational axis and center line are contained in the center plane; and 
 a second mating face comprising:
 a second protrusion; and
 a second recess disposed (1) across the mid-plane and opposite from the second protrusion or (2) across the center plane and opposite the second protrusion. 
 
 
 
 
     
     
       2. A split sprocket as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the first sprocket portion includes a first sprocket portion notch and the second sprocket portion includes a second sprocket portion notch, wherein, when assembled, the first sprocket portion notch and the second sprocket portion notch form a sprocket opening for receiving a shaft. 
     
     
       3. A split sprocket having a rotational axis and comprising:
 a first sprocket portion having first and second sides, and a mid-plane parallel to the first and second sides that extends through the first sprocket portion, the first sprocket portion comprising:
 a first circumferential outer surface for engaging a belt, the first circumferential outer surface having first and second ends and a center line midway between the first and second ends, the center line being parallel to the rotational axis, the first sprocket portion comprising a center plane perpendicular to the mid-plane and in which the rotational axis and center line are contained in the center plane; and 
 a first mating face comprising:
 a first protrusion;
 a first recess disposed (1) across the mid-plane and opposite from the first protrusion or (2) across the center plane and opposite the first protrusion; and 
 a first landing; and 
 
 
 
 a second sprocket portion having first and second sides, and a mid-plane parallel to the first and second sides that extends through the second sprocket portion, the second sprocket portion comprising:
 a second circumferential outer surface for engaging a belt, the second circumferential outer surface having first and second ends and a center line midway between the first and second ends, the center line being parallel to the rotational axis, the second sprocket portion comprising a center plane perpendicular to the mid-plane and in which the rotational axis and center line are contained in the center plane; and 
 a second mating face comprising:
 a second protrusion;
 a second recess disposed (1) across the mid-plane and opposite from the second protrusion or (2) across the center plane and opposite the second protrusion; and 
 a second landing; and 
 
 
 
 wherein the split sprocket is configured to be assembled in (1) a first configuration in which the first protrusion is received in the second recess and the second protrusion is received in the first recess or (2) a second configuration in which the first protrusion contacts the second landing and the second protrusion contacts the first landing. 
 
     
     
       4. The split sprocket as set forth in  claim 3  wherein the first landing is a third recess and the second landing is a fourth recess, the third and fourth recesses each having a depth less than a depth of each of the first and second recesses. 
     
     
       5. The split sprocket as set forth in  claim 3  wherein the first landing is a flat surface of the first mating face and the second landing is a flat surface of the second mating face. 
     
     
       6. A split sprocket as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the split sprocket is configured to be assembled in (1) a first configuration in which the first sprocket wheel segment and the fourth sprocket wheel segment mate to form a first sprocket wheel and the second sprocket wheel segment and the third sprocket wheel segment mate to form a second sprocket wheel or (2) a second configuration in which the first sprocket wheel segment and the third sprocket wheel segment mate to form a first sprocket wheel and the second sprocket wheel segment and the fourth sprocket wheel segment mate to form a second sprocket wheel. 
     
     
       7. A split sprocket as set forth in  claim 1  wherein:
 the first sprocket portion includes a first hub segment connected to the first sprocket wheel segment and the second sprocket wheel segment; and 
 the second sprocket portion includes a second hub segment connected to the third sprocket wheel segment and the fourth sprocket wheel segment, wherein, when assembled, the first and second hub segments form a center hub disposed between the first and second sprocket wheels. 
 
     
     
       8. The split sprocket as set forth in  claim 7  comprising a clamp for securing the first sprocket portion to the second sprocket portion, wherein, when assembled, the clamp contacts the center hub. 
     
     
       9. A split sprocket as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the first mating face defines a chord that extends between the first and second ends of the first circumferential outer surface and the second mating face defines a chord that extends between the first and second ends of the second circumferential outer surface. 
     
     
       10. A split sprocket having a rotational axis and comprising:
 a first sprocket portion having first and second sides, and a mid-plane parallel to the first and second sides that extends through the first sprocket portion, the first sprocket portion comprising:
 a first circumferential outer surface for engaging a belt, the first circumferential outer surface having first and second ends and a center line midway between the first and second ends, the center line being parallel to the rotational axis, the first sprocket portion comprising a center plane perpendicular to the mid-plane and in which the rotational axis and center line are contained in the center plane; and 
 a first mating face comprising:
 a first protrusion; and
 a first recess disposed across the mid-plane and opposite from the first protrusion; and 
 
 
 
 a second sprocket portion having first and second sides, and a mid-plane parallel to the first and second sides that extends through the second sprocket portion, the second sprocket portion comprising:
 a second circumferential outer surface for engaging a belt, the second circumferential outer surface having first and second ends and a center line midway between the first and second ends, the center line being parallel to the rotational axis, the second sprocket portion comprising a center plane perpendicular to the mid-plane and in which the rotational axis and center line are contained in the center plane; and 
 a second mating face comprising:
 a second protrusion; and
 a second recess disposed across the mid-plane and opposite from the second protrusion. 
 
 
 
 
     
     
       11. A split sprocket as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the first recess is disposed across the center plane and opposite from the first protrusion and the second recess is disposed across the center plane and opposite from the second protrusion. 
     
     
       12. A split sprocket having a rotational axis and comprising:
 a first sprocket portion having first and second sides, and a mid-plane parallel to the first and second sides that extends through the first sprocket portion, the first sprocket portion comprising:
 a first circumferential outer surface for engaging a belt, the first circumferential outer surface having first and second ends and a center line midway between the first and second ends, the center line being parallel to the rotational axis, the first sprocket portion comprising a center plane perpendicular to the mid-plane and in which the rotational axis and center line are contained in the center plane; and 
 a first mating face comprising:
 a first protrusion, the first protrusion having a first elevated surface that is elevated relative to a neutral plane of the first mating face; and 
 a first recess disposed (1) across the mid-plane and opposite from the first protrusion or (2) across the center plane and opposite the first protrusion, the first recess having a first recessed surface that is recessed relative to the neutral plane, the neutral plane being parallel to the first mating face; and 
 
 
 a second sprocket portion having first and second sides, and a mid-plane parallel to the first and second sides that extends through the second sprocket portion, the second sprocket portion comprising:
 a second circumferential outer surface for engaging a belt, the second circumferential outer surface having first and second ends and a center line midway between the first and second ends, the center line being parallel to the rotational axis, the second sprocket portion comprising a center plane perpendicular to the mid-plane and in which the rotational axis and center line are contained in the center plane; and 
 a second mating face comprising:
 a second protrusion, the second protrusion having a first elevated surface that is elevated relative to a neutral plane of the second mating face; and 
 a second recess disposed (1) across the mid-plane and opposite from the second protrusion or (2) across the center plane and opposite the second protrusion, the second recess having a second recessed surface that is recessed relative to the neutral plane, the neutral plane being parallel to the second mating face. 
 
 
 
     
     
       13. The split sprocket as set forth in  claim 12  wherein:
 the neutral plane of the first mating face is coincident with a major surface of the first mating face; and 
 the neutral plane of the second mating face is coincident with a major surface of the second mating face. 
 
     
     
       14. A split sprocket having a rotational axis and comprising:
 a first sprocket portion having first and second sides, and a mid-plane parallel to the first and second sides that extends through the first sprocket portion, the first sprocket portion comprising:
 a first circumferential outer surface for engaging a belt, the first circumferential outer surface having first and second ends and a center line midway between the first and second ends, the center line being parallel to the rotational axis, the first sprocket portion comprising a center plane perpendicular to the mid-plane and in which the rotational axis and center line are contained in the center plane; and 
 a first mating face comprising:
 a first protrusion; and
 a first recess disposed (1) across the mid-plane and opposite from the first protrusion or (2) across the center plane and opposite the first protrusion; and 
 
 
 
 a second sprocket portion having first and second sides, and a mid-plane parallel to the first and second sides that extends through the second sprocket portion, the second sprocket portion comprising:
 a second circumferential outer surface for engaging a belt, the second circumferential outer surface having first and second ends and a center line midway between the first and second ends, the center line being parallel to the rotational axis, the second sprocket portion comprising a center plane perpendicular to the mid-plane and in which the rotational axis and center line are contained in the center plane; and 
 a second mating face comprising:
 a second protrusion; and
 a second recess disposed (1) across the mid-plane and opposite from the second protrusion or (2) across the center plane and opposite the second protrusion; and 
 
 
 
 wherein each of the first and second circumferential outer surfaces includes teeth for engaging a belt and tabs perpendicular to the teeth to maintain alignment of the belt. 
 
     
     
       15. The split sprocket as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the first sprocket portion is identical in shape to the second sprocket portion. 
     
     
       16. A conveyor system comprising:
 a conveyor belt that rotates about a drive assembly and a tail assembly, the drive assembly and the tail assembly both comprising a split sprocket as set forth in  claim 1 . 
 
     
     
       17. A split sprocket for engaging a belt comprising:
 a first sprocket portion comprising: 
 a first circumferential outer surface having first and second ends;
 a first mating face that extends between the first and second ends of the first circumferential outer surface; and 
 
 a first notch for receiving a shaft; 
 a second sprocket portion comprising: 
 a second circumferential outer surface having first and second ends;
 a second mating face that extends between the first and second ends of the second circumferential outer surface; and 
 
 a second notch for receiving the shaft, 
 wherein the split sprocket may be assembled in (1) a first configuration in which the first and second notches form a first sprocket opening for receiving the shaft and (2) a second configuration in which the first and second notches form a second sprocket opening for receiving the shaft, wherein a width of the second sprocket opening exceeds a width of the first sprocket opening. 
 
     
     
       18. The split sprocket as set forth in  claim 17  wherein:
 the first sprocket portion comprises a first sprocket wheel segment having teeth and a second sprocket wheel segment having teeth; 
 the second sprocket portion includes a third sprocket wheel segment having teeth and a fourth sprocket wheel segment having teeth; and 
 wherein, in the first configuration the first sprocket wheel segment and the fourth sprocket wheel segment mate to form a first sprocket wheel and the second sprocket wheel segment and the third sprocket wheel segment mate to form a second sprocket wheel and in the second configuration the first sprocket wheel segment and the third sprocket wheel segment mate to form a first sprocket wheel and the second sprocket wheel segment and the fourth sprocket wheel segment mate to form a second sprocket wheel. 
 
     
     
       19. The split sprocket as set forth in  claim 18  wherein:
 the first sprocket portion includes a first hub segment connected to the first sprocket wheel segment and the second sprocket wheel segment; 
 the second sprocket portion includes a second hub segment connected to the third sprocket wheel segment and the fourth sprocket wheel segment, wherein when assembled, the first and second hub segments form a center hub disposed between the first sprocket wheel and the second sprocket wheel; and 
 the split sprocket comprises a clamp for securing the first sprocket portion to the second sprocket portion, the clamp being the only clamp that secures the first sprocket portion to the second sprocket portion.